Chuna Manual Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Objectives This systematic review aimed to provide evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods We searched 12 electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CiNii, ScienceON, KMbase, KISS, OASIS, KMTANK, and RISS) up to the end of October 2021. We only included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CMT for the treatment of CTS. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 1.0. Results Six RCTs were eligible for inclusion in our study. A meta-analysis of four studies demonstrated positive results for the use of CMT when used in conjunction with Korean medicine treatment compared to those for Western conservative treatment for CTS. Conjunction treatment significantly improved the total efficacy rate compared to conservative treatment alone (P=0.0007, n=4). Conclusions There is reliable evidence for the use of CMT in treating CTS based on a published meta-analysis. To measure only the effect of Chuna, an experimental group should be designed with Chuna alone to evaluate its effectiveness. However, it should be noted that the studies included in this systematic review were heterogeneous and of low quality, thus warranting further investigation using well-designed RCTs.